Jeff, just in case you missed the news over at ToonTalk, Scott Weiss of HOME FRIES has started his own site at Keenspace called Fried Green Comics.Dawn, I'm sorry about Cloud 8. But that is the syndicate that thought MR POTATO HEAD was a good idea. While I understand why you don't want to post your work on the web I am sadden I'll never get the chance to enjoy Cloud 8. Any future plans?And what's happening with you, Mr Bilman?

I must admit this last month I have kept right away from cartooning and it has only been today I've felt that urge again. It's been a terrible month, obviously with what happened in your country that devastated us here emotionally, but on top of that a number of personal/family/friend crises so September, 2001 you really sucked.<P>I know Scott has started his site up and I have visited. I liked Home Fries when it was on CE so am looking forward to seeing more. I haven't drawn a thing myself but as I said will probably start to soon again.<P>

Hey, Guys. I haven't been here in awhile and thought I'd drop in to let you know what's happening. <P>Yes, Universal Press dropped my strip. I was none too happy about it. The good news is that I may still get something out of it...a book deal or calendar or something. But it may not be feasible economically...I should know more in a week or two.<P>But I still don't have an artist. The artist Lee hand-picked flaked out after two months of stringing us along. Actually, I think that had as much to do with his dropping Cloud 8 as his skittish sales team. <P>So I'm still beating my head against this syndication wall like everybody else. Frankly, if this licensing stuff doesn't come through, I'm just going to say to hell with comics and quit. Six years is long enough to waste. This blow has been one too many.<P>Dawn

Dawn, I have had a writing career of bad breaks. My favorite example is when I was hired to comment about the entertainment scene for a radio station. And the night before my first show the radio station burned to the ground. I spent over a decade of my life obsessing over my writing. Two things ended my obsession. I grew weary of the Hollywood system and I became happy with my life. I still write but its been six years since I've made any effort to sell any of it. I don't know if you read TELLY, my text only comic at abandoned "Comics Edge". I learned alot from that experience. It reminded me how much I love writing and how some characters refuse to die. I am too tired and too aware of the system to even try to do a comic strip. But Telly and Speed refuse to be reasonable and fade away. So I am "working" on a novel. It would be great if UP gives you the same book opportunity they gave BIG PICTURE, but you are a writer with talent others believe in, don't limit yourself to one format.Though I wouldn't recommend screenwriting. I had a script never get produced because the director flaked out at the last minute. <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/smile.gif">

Guys you're not selling this whole cartooning thing to me very well. Should I stop right now? I think I'm going to have one more shot with a strip I'm thinking about (for the last 6 months). <P>I'm stuck in a bit of a hole whereby I want a job that will see me and my wife get by but also one I get satisfaction from. Believe it or not cartooning is something that would do that for me (well the satisfaction bit anyway) as at least you're making people laugh (hopefully) for a few seconds every day and you're enjoying coming up with the stuff. <P>My day job is administrative and is a real struggle to get through sometimes. Its something I have good skills in but it really does nothing for me. If cartooning doesn't work out I'll probably move on to a book or something. Ideally writing a lame teen comedy screenplay that kills them in the box office and makes me lots of money allowing me to actually do something meaningful is my preferred option. Or winning the lottery (and not having to write the lame teen comedy) would be even better.<P>So Mike how did you get happy? I'm aiming for content (not there yet).<P>

Guys you're not selling this whole cartooning thing to me very well. Should I stop right now? I think I'm going to have one more shot with a strip I'm thinking about (for the last 6 months). <P>I'm stuck in a bit of a hole whereby I want a job that will see me and my wife get by but also one I get satisfaction from. Believe it or not cartooning is something that would do that for me (well the satisfaction bit anyway) as at least you're making people laugh (hopefully) for a few seconds every day and you're enjoying coming up with the stuff. <P>My day job is administrative and is a real struggle to get through sometimes. Its something I have good skills in but it really does nothing for me. If cartooning doesn't work out I'll probably move on to a book or something. Ideally writing a lame teen comedy screenplay that kills them in the box office and makes me lots of money allowing me to actually do something meaningful is my preferred option. Or winning the lottery (and not having to write the lame teen comedy) would be even better.<P>So Mike how did you get happy? I'm aiming for content (not there yet).<P>

How I found happiness.Learn to enjoy what you have. I spent the first forty years of my life trying to make everything perfect. And to support my writing obsession I went from one horrible job to another.Two events changed my life. First, my best friend moved away. I have not heard from her in years. From that I finally learned that change is part of life. That the bad will come and go, but so will the good. I now try to appreciate what's good in my life today because it could be gone tomorrow. I accept the bad hoping it will be gone tomorrow. Second, I found a "real job" I love, receiving clerk for Tower Records. After spending 40 hours working at a job I enjoy it is easier to smile and harder for me to chase a writing career.I have no regrets because the path I took got me where I am today. But the biggest mistake I made was obsessing on one form of writing. I was at a meeting with Elliot Lewis, head writer for REMINGTON STEELE. He told me he thought I do better writing books rather than teleplays. My only thought was I'd just spent over a half a dozen years learning how to write for TV and I didn't want to start all over. What I didn't know until years later was that Elliot Lewis was also a writer of a series of mysteries novels. If I had kept an open mind I might have spent the last nearly 20 years working as a writer instead of a security guard,etc.

Andrew Pepoy is a good choice. I really enjoyed his work on ANNIE. His style was much better than the current artist. Pepoy's ANNIE showed his comic book bg while the current artist has turned it into a DICK TRACY rip-off.So does this means CLOUD 8 "resurrection"? <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/smile.gif">

Amy Lago, the Lee Salem of United Media, looked at my script and liked it. She also thinks it's not appropriate for newspapers, BUT she wants to have drawn samples so that she can promote it to their licensing division! Since Dilbert mania, they have created quite a team to seek and secure licensing deals. <P>So, my little angel may still never come back to life, but at least she has a chance! <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/smile.gif"> Andrew is supposed to have samples to me late next week. It will be GREAT to FINALLY see Manda and Smoot (formally Opal and the fallen angel, Jeff) on paper and not just in my head!!

Jeff,<P>Now that I have a moment, I would like to respond to your question...<P>No, don't give up. BUT I strongly suggest you start thinking of cartooning/writing as a hobby and be sure to get/keep "a real job"...otherwise, you may be twenty years down the road and have no money for your kids' college, retirement, or anything else.<P>Administrative work can even be enjoyable if it's with the right company. I'm working at a winery now and love it. There's wineries down there in Australia, too. In fact, we have 4 "kiwi's" working for us right now, through harvest!<P>My point is, take your talents and find a creative company to administer for. That at least gets you part way there!<P>

Hi guys,<P>well some good news at last, especially whilst I'm home with the flu. Well done Dawn.<P>I do have a new job on the horizon which will put cartooning on the back burner for a while since there'll be a lot of on the job training/learning. It's too good an opportunity to pass up. It's not often someone tells you "hey, you don't have the skills for this job but we're willing to give you the opportunity, time and training". <P>I also just heard back from King Features today with a New Breed submission which I sent about 6 months ago. Of the 15 I sent they chose 1 which, hey, is better than nothing and your dollar is double the value of ours so it'll pay for my speeding fine.<P>So whilst I won't be as visible over the next few/several months I will still be plugging away on the cartooning outskirts. I suppose I'll have to draw some more up for the New Breed since if they pick 1 they might pick more. And of course the rejected one's can go up on the site.<P>I suppose they picked the most commercial one. Alot of my stuff is a little too offbeat I think for what they run so its not a surprise.<P>Anyhow, take care both of you. Let me know of any developments and I'll talk to you all soon ...ish.